Block for shaping hats or caps.



'No. 724,227. PATENTED MAR. 313-1903;

H. WOLF.

BLOCK FOR SHAPING HATS 0R CAPS.

APPLICATION FILED-F013, 1,902.

no MODEL 2 sums-8111mm.

No. 724,227. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903.

H. H. WOLF. BLOCK FOR SHAPING HATS 0R GAPS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 3, 1902.

H0 MODEL 2 SHEETSBHEET 2,.

UNITED STATES- HERMAN H. WOLF,

BLOCK FOR SHAPING HATS OR CAPS.

PATE T FFICE.

OF CANTON, OHIO.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 724,227, dated March 31,1903.

Application filed November 3 1902. Serial No. 130,000. (No od l.)

To (0Z7. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANH. WOLF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Blocks for Shaping Hats or Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an adjustable block or holder and shaper for any size or style of white or other hat or cap cover which is capable of being laundered. Its object is to provide a device which will keep such covers in shape while they are being scrubbed or to hold them after being washed, in either case to prevent them from shrinking while drying.

The present illustration shows a block with a cap flared to receive broad-topped covers of any type, as of the United States Navy uniform-cap; but I contemplate the use of a block top or cap Without flare to accommodate a straight-sided cap-cover, and I may use interchangeable block tops or caps differing in shape to receive hat and cap covers of various forms.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the block and its applied cap or top. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cap. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the block and cap on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an isometric perspective view of a section of the block and cap. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a bottom plan view of a modified form of block and an inner side View of one of the block-sections.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a block or form consisting of two sections 1 and 2, each comprising a segmental shell of suitable size and depth for the work to be done, each of said shells being provided upon the interior thereof with side bosses or projections 3 and an intermediate screwthreaded socket 4, connected to and reinforced from said bosses by transverse braces 5. In the bosses 3 of one section are fixedly secured gage-bars 6, which fit and slide in guide-sockets 7 in the bosses of the other section and are provided with scale-graduations, whereby when it is desired at any time to increase the size of a hat or cap cover to any given circumference or to ascertain the size of a cap of any given circumference this object may be readily accomplished and the circumference in inches and the size shown by the scale-bars without the necessity of employing a separate measuring instrument. The sockets 4 are right and left screw-thread- I ed to receive right and left screw-threaded ends of an adjusting screw or stem 8, which -is provided at an intermediate pointwith a disk or handpiece 9, whereby said'stem or shaft may be rotated to adjust the sections 1 and 2 toward and from one another to decrease or increase the size of the block to accommodate difierent sizes of hat or cap covers.

In Figs. 5and 6 the construction before described is modified by providing the sections 1 and 2 of the block with transverse bars 10, suitably constructed for the reception and adjustment of the scale-bars and provided with screw-threaded apertures for the right and left hand threaded portions of ,the screw stem or shaft, the outer faces of said bars being recessed to form, when the sections are united, a space or chamber to accomimodate the handpiece or adjusting device.

Employed in connection with the block is a cap or cover 11, consisting of two segmental sections 12 and 13, adjustable toward and from one another and slotted, as shown at 14, for the reception of studs, screws, or other similar fastenings 15,which connect the stem with a bridge-piece or center vplate 16, said studs being fixed to said bridge-piece or plate and sliding in the slots 14, so that the sections 12 and 13 maybe relatively adjusted to conform to the adjustment of the block, the bridge-piece 16 serving to span the space 'or gap between said sections when moved apart to provide a continuous and practically smooth surface over which the top of the hat or cap cover may be stretched and maintained in proper form.

As shown iuthe presentinstance, the flange 18 of the cap 11 is inwardly flared, so as to adapt the device for holding cap covers of the kind whose sides are flared or outwardly projected at the point where theyare attached to the top of the cover, such type of cap being used in the naval service of the United States; but, if desired, the flange 18 may be straight or of any suitable arrangement to adapt the device for the reception of caps having straight sides or those varying in shape in minor particulars. I

As shown in Fig. 3, the cap is slipped in practice upon the block and provides a shaping or forming surface for a portion of the side and the top of the hat or cap cover, and when so applied the cover may he slipped upon the block and the latter adjusted to suit the size thereof, after which the cover may be scrubbed or washed and allowed to dry upon the block, which will prevent it from shrinking while drying and at the same time give it the proper degree of shape or finish. The bridge-piece of the cap by accom modating itself to the adjustments of the cap-sections provides a continuous surface whereby the top of the cover may be ironed, if desired, to smooth out any wrinkles or imperfections of surface.

If desired, the upper edge of the block may be formed with screw-threaded openings 19 and the cap with openings 20 for the passage of screws 21 to attach the cap to the block, or any other suitable kind of fastening means may be used.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character describcd,the combination with a block composed of adjustable sections, of a cap or cover therefor composed of end sections, and a bridge-piece adjustably uniting said sections and adapted to close the gap or space between said sections when outwardly adjusted, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a block composed of adjustable sections, of a detachable cap or cover therefor, comprising sections flanged for attachment to the block, and having longitudinal slots at their inner ends, a bridgepiece adapted to cover the space between said sections, and means on the bridge-piece projecting through said slots, whereby the sections and bridge-piece are adjustably united, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN I'I. WOLF.

Witnesses:

KATE I-I. WOLF, CHAS. M. BALL. 

